Skater propelled simulated animal figure



May 31, 1960 M. E. VANAUSE SKATER PROPELLED SIMULATED ANIMAL FIGURE Filed Dec. 5, 1957 3 nven1-or Mar/e 6 Van 005 e.

United States Patent 2,938,725 SKATER PROPELLED SllVIULATED ANllVIAL FIGURE Marie E. Vanause, 1213 11th Ave. W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada Filed Dec. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 700,903

Claims. (Cl. 272-21) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in skater propelled simulated animal figures, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a simulated animal adapted to be operated by a person wearing ice skates and having means whereby the head and tail portion can be pivoted horizontally by the leg action of the skater.

My device is particularly suitable for ice carnivals and the like to give a comic effect and for entertainment purposes and although the present invention illustrates a fish, nevertheless it is to be understood that any animal can be utilized for this purpose.

The device consists basically of a hollow body portion and head and tail portion pivotally connected for horizontal movement and the ice engaging runners of the body portion are arcuately curved so that the operator can also rock the simulated animal fore and aft.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device sectioned in part to show the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the cross bar and its attachment to the vertical post.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation showing one end of the bar attached to one of the post plates.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the head attached to the body.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the tail attached to the body.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated in this embodiment, a simulated fish collectively designated 1. This simulated animal includes a body portion collectively designated 2, a head portion collectively designated 3 and a tail portion collectively designated 4.

In detail, the body is basically elliptical when viewed in cross section and is hollow. It is preferably made of two halves joining vertically at the upper and lower vertical seams 5 by means of bolts 6 engaging lugs on the two sections.

The head 3 is of course hollow and the inner end 7 thereof is provided with a cross sectional configuration similar to the front end 8 of the body portion and it will be observed that this inner end nests partially within the front end 8 of the body portion and is mounted for limited horizontal swinging therein by means of vertically situated pivot pins 9 at the upper and lower juncture portions of the body. Rings 10 are secured to each of the front inner 2 a ends of the head portion 3, and cables 11 secured thereto. These cables extend towards the lower centre 12 of the body portion 2 which is open as indicated at 11 ,and terminate in harness-rings 13 adapted to be engaged by the legs of the skating operator. Y I

The tail portion 4 is also open, and is elliptical as as 14 when viewed in section, and is adapted to nest within the rear end 15 of the body portion. This tail is mounted for horizontal swinging movement, and by means of vertically situated pivot pins 16. Cables 17 extend from rings 17a on this inner nesting portion terminating in harness rings 18 adapted to be engaged by the legs of the operator.

Arcuately curved ice engaging runners 19 are secured to the underside of the body portion 2 and spaced in parallel relationship, and the space between these runners is open to the ice surface so that the operator, wearing skates, can propel the device forwardly or in any configuration possible under the conditions. As the operator skates forwardly or otherwise, the harness ring attachments enable the skater to operate the cables to pull in turn on the head and tail portions from side to side causing limited horizontal movements thereof.

A crank shaped cross bar 20 is engaged between the walls of the body portion 2 which is adapted to be grasped by the operator so that he can rock the device fore and aft and acts as a stabilizing means to assist him in propeling the device. This cross bar is selectively detachable from the walls by means of bar plates 21 secured to the inner surfaces of the walls.

The ends 22 of the crank shaped cross bar are provided with flat lugs 23 engageable in vertical recesses 24 within the plates 21. These vertical recesses terminate in horizontal recesses 25 so that the bar, turned at right angles from the position shown in Figure 3, may he slipped into the vertical recesses whereupon a turn through engages the lugs 23 with the horizontal recesses 25 so that it takes up the position shown in Figure 3.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently wide 1y different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as ilustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A skater propelled simulated animal figure, supported on a pair of ice surface engaging runners secured to the base of said figure in spaced and parallel relationship, said figure comprising in combination a hollow body portion completely housing said skater, the part of said body portion between said runners being open at the base thereof, and a head portion and a tail portion each pivotally connected for limited horizontal swinging relative to said body portion, each said head and tail portions being substantially hollow at the inner end thereof where same joins said body portion, each said head and tail portions being meshed partially within said body portion for sideways pivoting action.

2. The device according to claim 1 which includes two cables secured to and approximately half way up on the peripheral edge of each head and tail meshed portion, and extending towards the center of said hollow body portion, and adapted to be connected pairwise to the legs of the skating operator, whereby the skating action of the operator is adapted to swing said head portion and said tail portion from side to side.

3. The device according to claim 1 which includes a crank shaped animal-pitching cross bar spanning the walls of said hollow body portion, and means to detachably secure said bar thereto.

f I Y 'asssnzs -4. Thedevice according to claim-2 which includes a crank shaped animal-pitching cross bar spanning the walls of said hollow body portion, and means to detachably' secure said-bar'thereto.

The device acc'ording'to claim 2 whieh inoludes 5 veirtieal pivot pins extending between each said head and fail-portion and said body portion for said horizontal s wingingconnection.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wendt L. Apr. 26, 1955 

